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Belgium Will Be Easier to Divide than Czechoslovakia
02/01/2008 :: Last December, Vlaams Belang Senator Karim Van Overmeire published a book about the method by which Flanders can obtain its independence. In the book he refers to the secession of Norway from Sweden (1905), the partition of Czechoslovakia (1992) and the secession of Montenegro from Serbia (2006) as examples to follow. We met with the senator to discuss his book. Excerpts:
What lessons do you draw from these historical examples?
The examples show that nations can become independent in a non-violent way. It has been done before. Obviously, every situation is different. The fact that Belgium has a common dynasty and the situation of Brussels as a French-speaking enclave within Dutch-speaking Flanders complicate matters. The fact that we belong to the European Union, however, makes things easier. We will not have to organize border controls, nor will we need a new currency.
You stress that you are not a secessionist, though you are a proponent of Flemish independence. Can you explain that?
Secession means that the Flemings secede from Belgium, but the Flemings are a 60% majority in Belgium. Flanders is not going to secede from Belgium, establishing a new nation and leaving Belgium to the French-speaking minority in Wallonia. No, Flanders and Wallonia, are going to dissolve the Belgian federation, thereby establishing two new nations, who will both be succession states to Belgium.
Do you propose a referendum on Flemish independence?
There were referendums in both Norway and Montenegro, but not in Czechoslovakia, where the Czechs and Slovaks dissolved their federation. The Czechoslovakian politicians were worried about what to do if one half of the federation were to vote in favour of dissolving the federation while the other half voted against it. If one organizes a referendum every outcome must lead to a workable solution.
And what about Brussels?
Brussels used to be Dutch-speaking but, owing to the Frenchification process organized by the Belgian authorities, it has become a French-speaking enclave within Flanders. Nevertheless, French-speaking Brusselers are not Walloons. The Vlaams Belang wants Brussels to retain its current position as the capital of Flanders, but is prepared to let it keep its present bilingual status. We are, however, prepared to discuss the status of Brussels.
The appendix to your book is a draft for a Flemish Constitution. Surely the people will have to be consulted first?
Of course Flanders will have a different Constitution than the one laid out in the appendix to my book. I inserted the draft Constitution in the book, however, to show that Flanders will be a more democratic, transparent and efficient state than contemporary Belgium with its extremely complicated structures. Unlike in Belgium, referendums will be possible in Flanders, because, unlike Belgium, Flanders will be a nation, while Belgium is an artificial construct which keeps the Flemish nation captive.
Join the Friends of Flemish Independence (F.F.I.)
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Senator Karim Van Overmeire has founded the ‘Friends of Flemish Independence.’ FFI is a worldwide network of local representatives who follow the media in their own countries and react whenever wrong information is given about Belgium and the Flemings’ struggle for independence.
A website will be established to support these people with valuable information. If you are interested in joining FFI, please contact friends@flemishrepublic.org.
Karim Van Overmeire is chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and European Affairs of the Flemish Parliament. He is also a member of the Belgian Senate and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the West European Union.
Article in issue nº 21
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